Q&A with Penn State cornerback Stephon Morris

Ohio State vs. Penn State. Just the thought of the contest sends chills down the spines of Penn State faithful. Now add a No. 9 ranking and unblemished record for the Buckeyes, a Penn State whiteout complete with an evening kick, and a Nittany Lions squad making serious noise after an 0-2 start. Penn State senior cornerback Stephon Morris has played in his share of big games while sporting the blue and white and understands why this game has the makeup to trump them all.

Q: What have the emotions been like for you going into your fourth and final Ohio State game?

A: My emotions have been kind of up and down. I know it’s a big game, especially with this being my senior year, and it’s been one of the most fun years I’ve been here. I really haven’t thought about it, but this is my last whiteout as a Penn State student athlete, so there’s definitely a lot of emotions.

Q: Describe the mood of the team this week. Is it a similar mood?

A: Yeah, it’s definitely a similar mood. I don’t want to speak for the team, but I know some of the seniors are feeling the same way. Some of these guys, as far as the freshmen, it’s their first whiteout so it means a lot to every one of us from freshmen to seniors.

Q: Is this game taking on any extra meaning for yourself or the team?

A: Definitely. It’s Ohio State. They are our rivals in the Big Ten. Penn State-Ohio State has had a lot of clashes, a lot of close games. A lot of great players came before us on both teams. It’s a whiteout so I know our fans are going to be really amped up about it. We are just going to put it all on the table and give everything we have.

Q: What is the last thing you do or think about before running out of the tunnel?

A: The last thing I do is relax. I take my cleats off after pregame warmup. Just kind of relax my mind. I pray, and right before I hit that tunnel with the team, you have so much adrenaline going and you see the crowd coming out when you are walking through. Everything just lets out from there.

Q: What’s it like coming out of the tunnel during a whiteout?

A: It’s going to be crazy, man. I know the first whiteout, I was a recruit at the game against Notre Dame. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the same but a lot more intense, just the fact that we’re going against Ohio State and everybody is on board. We’ve been coming together as a team and a community as a whole this season. This game, what it’s doing for Penn State University, it’s going to mean a lot to everyone.

Q: What do you want to tell the fans before this game?

A: Just be loud, be themselves and just continue to be Penn State. That’s all. We’ve got the best fans in the country, especially our student section. Every time Ohio State’s offense is on the field, be as loud as you can.

Q: Is this the biggest game you’ve ever played in?

A: You know, coming into this season, the first game against Ohio was probably the biggest game. Then, you go to UVA and that becomes a big game. Then you move on each and every week. This game right here, it’s definitely going to be one of the biggest games in Penn State history, and it will be the biggest game of my career, I believe.